Jane Murfin

Jane Murfin, née Macklem (October 27, 1884 – August 10, 1955) was an American playwright and screenwriter. The author of several successful plays, she wrote some of them with actress Jane Cowl—most notably Smilin' Through (1919), which was adapted three times for motion pictures. In Hollywood Murfin became a popular screenwriter whose credits include What Price Hollywood? (1932), for which she received an Academy Award nomination. In the 1920s she lived with Laurence Trimble, writing and producing films for their dog Strongheart, the first major canine star.

Jane Murfin
Jane Murfin in 1923
Born	Jane Macklem (1884-10-27)October 27, 1884 Quincy, Michigan, United States
Died	August 10, 1955(1955-08-10) (aged 70) California, United States
Occupation(s)	Playwright, screenwriter, producer, director
Years active	1919–1944
Spouses	James Murfin ​ ​ (m. 1907; div. 1912)​ Donald Crisp ​ ​ (m. 1932; div. 1944)​
Partner	Laurence Trimble (c. 1920–1925)

Life and career

Jane Murfin with Strongheart (1923)

Jane Macklem was born October 27, 1884, in Quincy, Michigan. In 1907 she married attorney James Murfin, and retained his surname when the marriage ended fewer than five years later.^[1]

Murfin began her career with the play Lilac Time, which she co-wrote with actress Jane Cowl. The Broadway production opened February 6, 1917, and ran for 176 performances. Later that year the two women began collaborating, often under pseudonym Allan Langdon Martin,^[2] on a series of revivals of World War I melodramas.^[3] The pair later collaborated on Daybreak, followed by Information Please (1918) and Smilin' Through (1919).

In Hollywood, Murfin became a leading screenwriter, writing many romantic comedies and dramas by herself or in collaboration.^[4]

Murfin ordering the placement of lights while directing Flapper Wives (1924)

In 1920, director Laurence Trimble persuaded Murfin to purchase a German Shepherd dog—Strongheart—that became the first major canine film star.^[5][6][7] Strongheart starred in four films that Trimble directed from Murfin's screenplays: The Silent Call (1921), Brawn of the North (1922), The Love Master (1924) and White Fang (1925).^[8]

Murfin is credited with directing one film, Flapper Wives (1924),^[9] before the dissolution of her partnership with Trimble. Film historian Kevin Brownlow described this partnership as both professional and personal; although some sources describe Trimble and Murfin as a husband-and-wife filmmaking team, no marriage has been substantiated.^[1]

Murfin's later screenwriting credits include Way Back Home (1931), Our Betters (1933),^[10] The Little Minister (1934), Spitfire (1934), Roberta (1935), Alice Adams (1935), The Women (1939), Pride and Prejudice (1940), and Dragon Seed (1944).^[11]

Personal life

Murfin was married first to lawyer James Murfin from 1907 to 1912.^[12] Her second marriage was to actor Donald Crisp, for whom she would write parts in her scripts; the marriage lasted from 1932 to 1944.^[3][4]

Accolades

Murfin and Adela Rogers St. Johns were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Story for What Price Hollywood? (1932). Frances Marion received the award for The Champ.

Theatre credits

Date	Title	Notes
February 6 – July 1917	Lilac Time	Theatre Republic, New York City; written with Jane Cowl[2] Basis for the 1928 film[11]
August 14 – October 1917	Daybreak	Harris Theatre, New York City; written with Jane Cowl[2] Basis for the 1918 film[11]
October 2 – November 1918	Information Please	Selwyn Theatre, New York City[2] Basis for the film A Temperamental Wife (1919)[11]
December 30, 1919 – May 1920	Smilin' Through	Broadhurst Theatre, New York City; written with Jane Cowl, as Allan Langdon Martin[2] Basis for film adaptations in 1922, 1932 and 1941[11]
October 21 – November 1929	Stripped	Ambassador Theatre, New York City[2]

Select filmography

Murfin is credited as a writer; additional production credits are noted.

Ad for Marie, Ltd. (1919)

Poster for Brawn of the North (1922)

Postcard for The Love Master (1924)

Norma Shearer in A Slave of Fashion (1925)

Window card for What Price Hollywood? (1932)

Lobby card for The Women (1939)

Year	Title	Notes
1919	Marie, Ltd.	[11]
1919	The Right to Lie	[11]
1920	The Amateur Wife	[11]
1921	The Silent Call	[11]
1922	Brawn of the North	Also producer[11]
1924	The Love Master	Also producer[11]
1924	Flapper Wives	Also producer, director[11]
1925	White Fang	[11]
1925	A Slave of Fashion	[11]
1926	The Savage	[11]
1926	Meet the Prince	[11]
1927	The Notorious Lady	[11]
1927	The Prince of Headwaiters	[11]
1929	Street Girl	[11]
1929	Half Marriage	[11]
1929	Dance Hall	[11]
1929	Seven Keys to Baldpate	[11]
1930	The Runaway Bride	[11]
1930	Lawful Larceny	[11]
1930	Leathernecking	[11]
1930	The Pay-Off	[11]
1931	Too Many Cooks	[11]
1931	Friends and Lovers	[11]
1931	Way Back Home	[11]
1932	Young Bride	[11]
1932	What Price Hollywood?	[11]
1932	Rockabye	[11]
1933	Our Betters	[11]
1933	The Silver Cord	[11]
1933	Double Harness	[11]
1933	Ann Vickers	[11]
1933	After Tonight	[11]
1933	Little Women	[11]
1934	Spitfire	[11]
1934	This Man Is Mine	[11]
1934	The Crime Doctor	[11]
1934	The Life of Vergie Winters	[11]
1934	The Fountain	[11]
1934	The Little Minister	[11]
1935	Romance in Manhattan	[11]
1935	Roberta	[11]
1935	Break of Hearts	[11]
1935	Alice Adams	[11]
1936	Come and Get It	[11]
1937	That Girl from Paris	[11]
1937	I'll Take Romance	[11]
1938	The Shining Hour	[11]
1939	Stand Up and Fight	[11]
1939	The Women	[11]
1940	Northwest Passage	[11]
1940	Pride and Prejudice	[11]
1941	Andy Hardy's Private Secretary	[11]
1943	Flight for Freedom	[11]
1944	Cry "Havoc"	[11]
1944	Dragon Seed	[11]